Population Change and Lifecourse

Population change provides an important context for significant social policy choices. The various processes at play in the lifecourses of individuals are, in the aggregate, the causes of population change.

The size, rate of growth, age structure, and distribution across space of a society’s population have profound effects on the life chances of individuals.
An individual’s path through such life transitions as entry into the labour force, marriage, and childbearing is influenced in significant ways by the demographic structure of the society in which he or she lives.
Similarly, the cumulative effect of the experiences of men and women has lasting consequences for the population structure of a society.

The primary goal of the Population Change and Lifecourse Strategic Knowledge Cluster is to promote research that will lead academics and policymakers to a clearer understanding of the relationship between population structure and the lives of individuals. This research will form the basis for improved planning on the part of governments, public institutions and agencies, and business.

The Cluster will contribute to enhancing the research infrastructure needed for this research.
It will work to engage partners and the public in the discussion of associated research questions and the implications of the findings.

The Cluster will support the education of a new generation of skilled researchers who will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about population, the lifecourse, and the development of society and its institutions.

Mission Statement - Long Version (PDF)